Spectacular Custer State Park: An Unforgettable South Dakota Wildlife Adventure, SD

Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Custer State Park is an incredibly beautiful destination filled with scenic landscapes and abundant wildlife. Established in 1891, it was South Dakota’s first state park and now encompasses approximately 71,000 acres.

We visited South Dakota in June 2022 and drove through Custer State Park several times during our trip. This post is about our first evening, when we enjoyed dinner at Sylvan Lake Lodge. It was my first time trying walleye, and I have to say, it was delicious!

After dinner, we wandered around the lodge and took time to enjoy the surrounding scenery. The rugged Black Hills landscape was beautiful, and I couldn’t resist stopping frequently to take photographs. The peaceful setting around Sylvan Lake Lodge made it a wonderful introduction to Custer State Park.

Two days later, we returned to the park to drive the Wildlife Loop Road, and this turned out to be one of the highlights of our entire South Dakota trip.

As we made our way along the loop, we encountered a large herd of bison blocking the road. At first, we simply stopped and waited for them to move along. But the bison weren’t in any hurry. They slowly wandered down the road, completely unconcerned about the line of cars waiting behind them.

Eventually, we found ourselves watching these enormous animals wander among the vehicles. It was a sight unlike anything I had experienced before. There is something incredible about seeing bison so close while knowing that you’re witnessing them moving freely through their natural environment.

And yes, I learned afterward that the animals we saw were American bison, although they’re commonly called buffalo. Either way, they were absolutely magnificent!

The traffic jam caused by the herd became an unexpected wildlife encounter rather than an inconvenience. Everyone seemed happy to wait and watch. It was one of those travel moments that you simply can’t plan, and for me, it became one of the most memorable experiences of our South Dakota trip.

The bison weren’t the only wildlife we encountered. We also saw some incredibly cute prairie dogs and a wild turkey along the Wildlife Loop. The variety of animals made the drive even more enjoyable.

What I loved about the Wildlife Loop was the sense of anticipation. You never know what might appear around the next bend. One minute you’re admiring the Black Hills scenery, and the next you’re stopping for a herd of bison or watching prairie dogs pop out of their burrows.

I highly recommend driving the Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Road if you’re visiting the Black Hills. Don’t be in a hurry—wildlife may very well determine your schedule. In my opinion, that’s part of the experience.

Custer State Park ended up being one of my favorite stops in South Dakota, and the bison encounter alone made the visit unforgettable. Sometimes the best travel memories are the completely unexpected ones.

If You Go

Location: Black Hills, South Dakota.
Established: 1891.
Size: Approximately 71,000 acres.
Highlights: Bison, prairie dogs, wild turkeys, scenic drives, granite formations, lakes, and Black Hills scenery.
Wildlife Loop Road: A must-do scenic drive for wildlife viewing.
Best for: Wildlife watching, photography, scenic drives, hiking, and exploring the Black Hills.
Allow extra time: Wildlife can bring traffic to a complete stop, especially when bison are on the road.
Wildlife safety: Bison are wild animals and can be unpredictable. Never approach, feed, or attempt to touch them.
Photography: Bring a camera with a zoom lens, particularly if wildlife photography is one of your interests.
Dining: We enjoyed dinner at Sylvan Lake Lodge and especially enjoyed the walleye.
Tip: Don’t rush the Wildlife Loop. Some of your best memories may come from unexpected wildlife encounters.